Lamp harp



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Jam, 5,, 195% LAMP H Filed May 5 1951 VENTOR- KQRNEL BERGE TTQRNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to lamp harps, and, more particularly, to an improved swivel top for the same.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a swivel top of the character described which consists of extremely few parts and is very easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a swivel top of the character described which is of simple and sturdy construction.

It isanother object of the present invention to provide a swivel top of the character described in which the swivel attachment is able to consist of only a single part and which, despite such simplicity, is able to oscillate readily about either of two axes at right angles to one another.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a swivel top of the character described which operates smoothly and efficiently.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the device hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one Of the various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front View of the upper portion of a lamp harp having a swivel top constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 3, but showing the swivel top tilted about one axis;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the swivel top tilted about another axis; and

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the swivel top.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral l0 denotes the conventional wire bail of a lamp harp. Mounted on the horizonta1 top reach l2 of the bail is an attaching element 54 which may be fabricated from any suitable material, for example, metal or plastic.

Th attaching element includes a threaded finial stud I6 extending upwardly away from a seat constituting a broad circular flange H3. The spider hub of a lamp-shade is adapted to rest on the flange, the finial being screwed on the stud to clamp the hub against the flange.

Integral with the flange and stud, and extending downwardly from the bottom thereof, although not necessarily in one piece therewith, is a post 2!) which is divided by a diametrical slot 22 into a pair of resilient legs 24, 26. The slot is in two parts, to-wit, an upper part 28 and a lower part 36, these being separated by a medial constricted portion which comprises a pair of inwardly extending shoulders 32, 34 disposed at the bottom of the upper part of the slot.

Each inner surface of the lower part 33 essen tially comprises a plane segment which when the stud is erect lies in a vertical plane and extends upwardly from the bottom of the leg. A perpendicular distance slightly less than the diameter of the wire forming the top reach [2 of the bail separates the segments of the two inner surfaces when the legs are relaxed. The top of each segment is spaced from the associated shoulders 32, 34 a distance not exceeding the radius of said wire. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention said segments are constituted by the full widths of the parallel inner surfaces of the lower part 39 and that fraction of their height which extends from the bottom of each leg to a line a at the point of contact of the bail with the inner surface when the bail also contacts the shoulder. By way of example, satisfactory results are secured when the height of the lower part substantially exceeds the diameter of said wire, being equal to, for instance, about one and one-half times said diameter.

To mount the attaching element M on the bail, the top reach 12 is forced between the legs into the lower part 30 of the slot and thereafter the center of the bottom of each leg is staked adjacent the slot, as at 36, to form cars 38 which extend into the slot whereby the bail is captively retained (see Figs. 5 and '7). The resilient legs will be spread slightly by insertion of the top reach, and the consequent restoring effort will hold the bail frictionally between the inner surfaces. The requisite degree of resilience in the legs is produced by providing a cantilever arm of substantial length between the points where the bail contacts the legs and the base of the slot. The upper part 28 of the slot enables the legs to be made long enough to create this necessary resilience while the shoulders 32, 3 5 prevent the bail from entering said portion or the slot. Optionally the slot may be of uniform width, i. e. without a constriction, and the requisite resilience obtained by providing legs somewhat thinner than those illustrated in the drawings. The swivel top is rotatable by manipulation of the shade about the longitudinal axis of the reach (see Fig. 5) against the frictional restoring force caused by pressure of the legs against said reach. Also said element is tiltable by manipulation of the shade in the general plane of the slot' against the same retaining force (see Fig. 6) the degree of tilting being limited by abutment of the top reach against the ends of the shoulders and the ears. Combinations of the two motions are, of course, possible.

It thus will be seen that there is provided a device which achieves all the objects of the invention and is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood thatlallmatter herein described, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and desired to secure by- Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a lamp harp bail of round cross section and a swivel top including a member having two resilient legs extending downwardly from said member, said legs being spaced from each other producing thereby a slot, said slot having a width slightly less than and a depth in excess of the diameter of the bail, and means to retain a harp bail between said less.

2. In combination, a lamp harp bail of round cross section and a swivel top including a member having two resilient legs extending downwardly from said member, said legs being spaced from each other producing thereby a slot, a portion of the bail being disposed in the slot, said slot having a width slightly less than and a depth in excess of the diameter of the bail, a shoulder projecting into said slot creating thereby a constriction, said shoulder being above said bail, and means to retain a harp bail between said legs.

3. In combination, a lamp harp bail of round cross section and a swivel top including a member having two resilient legs extending downwardly from said member, said legs being spaced from each other producing thereby a slot, a portion of the bail being disposed in the slot, said slot having a width slightly less than and a depth in excess of the diameter of the bail, a shoulder projecting into said slot creating thereby a constriction, said shoulder being above said bail, and means to retain a harp bail between said legs, said shoulder being spaced from said retaining means a distance in excess of the diameter of the bail.

KORNEL BERGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,610,044 Fortin Dec. '7, 1926 2,495,209 Chilo Jan. 24, 1950 2,578,360 Jubenville Dec. 11, 1951 

